An Exploratory Study on the Onset Age of Child Sexual Abuse: A Comparison of Childhood and Adolescence Onset

Research on child sexual abuse has predominantly focused on cases that typically begin in early childhood. By contrast, sexual abuse and boundary violations that first occur during adolescence have received comparatively little attention. This study aims to analyze the similarities and differences in the age of abuse onset in childhood and adolescence, considering victim characteristics and abuse-related factors. The study is based on anonymously collected data from the German Sexual Abuse Telephone Helpline covering the years 2016 to 2024. The sample comprises 1,935 reported cases of sexual abuse that began in childhood or adolescence. The study examined similarities and differences between victims whose abuse began in childhood versus those whose abuse began during adolescence using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses. The age of onset in childhood was significantly more likely to be associated with contact, non-penetrative abuse. By contrast, the age of onset in adolescence was significantly linked to penetrative acts. Childhood-onset abuse cases occurred more often within the family, with fathers and grandfathers being the predominant perpetrators. By contrast, abuse that began in adolescence was significantly associated with non-familial contexts, most commonly involving strangers, sports coaches, and teachers as perpetrators. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable in specific contexts, such as institutional settings. This developmental phase is characterized by growing autonomy, sexual exploration, and spending more time outside the family environment. These factors can make adolescents vulnerable to abuse. Professional fields and society need to raise awareness and learn to recognize and respond to the needs of victims who experienced abuse during adolescence.